Throughout my life, I have faced many challenges, and, although some were more difficult to overcome than others, through it all, my outlook remained positive. I have worked very hard at maintaining this positive perspective in everything I do, whether it is connected to my health issues, my academics, or my athletic activities. The reason I have this skill and continue to try to develop it is because I was raised with the belief that one can do anything as long as one's goal is to remain positive. Throughout my life, I have learned, through experience, that this is definitely the case. Although I was taught to have a positive perspective by my parents, as I grew up, I realized the value of this and, that, like any other skill, maintaining it requires consistent practice. In the same way that this skill has helped me in my life, it will also help me as I begin my career in education.
My parents taught me at a young age the power a positive perspective can have on the quality of life, especially when dealing with my health. I have had respiratory issues my whole life and have tested positive for Cystic Fibrosis; however, the tests are not conclusive, and I do not have all of the “classic” symptoms. So, the doctors treat my condition as if it is CF, and I am monitored regularly. Although many are shocked when they hear this, I have never been dismayed by my situation, and, growing up, I have never really considered myself to be sick. I was raised to look at everything optimistically, so when I would have to take a break from a soccer game to expel mucous or “do pukies”, as I would refer to it as a child, it was not because I was sick, but rather because I just needed a minute to catch my breath. Instead of being embarrassed or upset these times, I was proud that I could take care of myself and re-join the game. This “sickness” has never held me back because my parents raised me to have a positive perspective on my situation. I still do not consider myself sick because I learned, at a young age, that how I perceive things in life influences how I respond to them and that I control my perspective.
Inasmuch as my health and my parents taught me about the power of a positive perspective, it was not until I made the transition from middle school to high school that I truly learned the value of how having a positive perspective can help a person to overcome anything. Throughout middle school it was simpler to have a positive perspective because the course work was not too difficult for me, and there was little stress. However, when I went to high school, the work became much more difficult. I attended a public magnet school called the Bergen County Academies in which I majored in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. Every class in my high school was at an honors level and above, with an extremely rigorous curriculum. Coming from a middle school where the material was not overly challenging and I earned straight A’s, it was a shock. I studied much more and still received lower grades in return. Initially, this was difficult for me to grasp. In middle school I was one of the smartest students, but, in high school, I became just an average student. After quite a few days of frustration and nights of tears, I realized I was looking at it all the wrong way. I was looking at the negatives of being average, when I needed to be seeing the positives. My high school was giving me an opportunity to challenge myself in a way that my middle school was unable to do. I began to take advantage of every opportunity the school had to offer. I went for extra help with my teachers, got tutors for my more difficult courses, and studied a little bit every night to make sure I really grasped the material. I made a decision to keep a smile on my face and a book in my hand at all times. "Practicing" a positive attitude helped me to actually develop one. If it were not for my positive outlook, I would not have done as well as I did at that school. I look back and appreciate what high school did for me; it taught me the value of a positive perspective and the difference it can make when applied.
Another important part of my life is sports, and, in this area, the application and practice of this skill motivated me to step out of my comfort zone. I began high school playing soccer on the freshman team and then the junior varsity team by my sophomore year; however, during myjunior year, I wanted to do something different. Although I had been playing soccer for 10 years, I decided I wanted to try out for the volleyball team. I practiced with my brother over the summer to learn how to do the basic skills of bumping and setting, but when tryouts came, I was very apprehensive. I did not know much about the sport and all of the other girls had played before. However, I did not let this fear stop me. In my mind, the “worst” possible outcome of switching sports was that I would meet new people and, for the first time in my life, have a Fall where I could do whatever I wanted. The tryouts were difficult, and there were many times where I had no idea what I was doing. During the tryout, there were times when I just wanted to quit, but I knew I had to stay positive. I just kept telling myself, “You can do this”. In the end I made the team, and, by my senior year, was starting every game and was captain of the varsity team. If I had let the many negatives affect me, I would have quit after the first day of tryouts, but, by stepping out of my comfort zone and continuing to let my positive perspective guide me, I was able to learn a new sport, make new friends, and have a lot of fun.
This skill will prove very useful in the future as well because children need to know they can achieve anything, and my positive attitude would be a model for the children, particularly those who may have personal, socio-economic, or physical challenges, to stay positive and optimistic.To this end, my particular interest is either working with children in urban areas and/or children with special needs. In the future, as an educator, I want to be a part of the success of my students in two ways: as an instructor and as a motivator using both the knowledge I gain in my education and the positive perspective I continue to practice each day. In my life, when I have faced various challenges, I knew that I had two ways to face it: positively or negatively. Seeing the negative side of a challenge is necessary as this is reality, but I have acquired the ability to move past it, work through it, and, eventually, see that something good can come out of it.
My parents taught me at a young age the power a positive perspective can have on the quality of life, especially when dealing with my health. I have had respiratory issues my whole life and have tested positive for Cystic Fibrosis; however, the tests are not conclusive, and I do not have all of the “classic” symptoms. So, the doctors treat my condition as if it is CF, and I am monitored regularly. Although many are shocked when they hear this, I have never been dismayed by my situation, and, growing up, I have never really considered myself to be sick. I was raised to look at everything optimistically, so when I would have to take a break from a soccer game to expel mucous or “do pukies”, as I would refer to it as a child, it was not because I was sick, but rather because I just needed a minute to catch my breath. Instead of being embarrassed or upset these times, I was proud that I could take care of myself and re-join the game. This “sickness” has never held me back because my parents raised me to have a positive perspective on my situation. I still do not consider myself sick because I learned, at a young age, that how I perceive things in life influences how I respond to them and that I control my perspective.
Inasmuch as my health and my parents taught me about the power of a positive perspective, it was not until I made the transition from middle school to high school that I truly learned the value of how having a positive perspective can help a person to overcome anything. Throughout middle school it was simpler to have a positive perspective because the course work was not too difficult for me, and there was little stress. However, when I went to high school, the work became much more difficult. I attended a public magnet school called the Bergen County Academies in which I majored in Culinary Arts and Hospitality Management. Every class in my high school was at an honors level and above, with an extremely rigorous curriculum. Coming from a middle school where the material was not overly challenging and I earned straight A’s, it was a shock. I studied much more and still received lower grades in return. Initially, this was difficult for me to grasp. In middle school I was one of the smartest students, but, in high school, I became just an average student. After quite a few days of frustration and nights of tears, I realized I was looking at it all the wrong way. I was looking at the negatives of being average, when I needed to be seeing the positives. My high school was giving me an opportunity to challenge myself in a way that my middle school was unable to do. I began to take advantage of every opportunity the school had to offer. I went for extra help with my teachers, got tutors for my more difficult courses, and studied a little bit every night to make sure I really grasped the material. I made a decision to keep a smile on my face and a book in my hand at all times. "Practicing" a positive attitude helped me to actually develop one. If it were not for my positive outlook, I would not have done as well as I did at that school. I look back and appreciate what high school did for me; it taught me the value of a positive perspective and the difference it can make when applied.
Another important part of my life is sports, and, in this area, the application and practice of this skill motivated me to step out of my comfort zone. I began high school playing soccer on the freshman team and then the junior varsity team by my sophomore year; however, during myjunior year, I wanted to do something different. Although I had been playing soccer for 10 years, I decided I wanted to try out for the volleyball team. I practiced with my brother over the summer to learn how to do the basic skills of bumping and setting, but when tryouts came, I was very apprehensive. I did not know much about the sport and all of the other girls had played before. However, I did not let this fear stop me. In my mind, the “worst” possible outcome of switching sports was that I would meet new people and, for the first time in my life, have a Fall where I could do whatever I wanted. The tryouts were difficult, and there were many times where I had no idea what I was doing. During the tryout, there were times when I just wanted to quit, but I knew I had to stay positive. I just kept telling myself, “You can do this”. In the end I made the team, and, by my senior year, was starting every game and was captain of the varsity team. If I had let the many negatives affect me, I would have quit after the first day of tryouts, but, by stepping out of my comfort zone and continuing to let my positive perspective guide me, I was able to learn a new sport, make new friends, and have a lot of fun.
This skill will prove very useful in the future as well because children need to know they can achieve anything, and my positive attitude would be a model for the children, particularly those who may have personal, socio-economic, or physical challenges, to stay positive and optimistic.To this end, my particular interest is either working with children in urban areas and/or children with special needs. In the future, as an educator, I want to be a part of the success of my students in two ways: as an instructor and as a motivator using both the knowledge I gain in my education and the positive perspective I continue to practice each day. In my life, when I have faced various challenges, I knew that I had two ways to face it: positively or negatively. Seeing the negative side of a challenge is necessary as this is reality, but I have acquired the ability to move past it, work through it, and, eventually, see that something good can come out of it.